Simpson softball team members celebrate between innings Thursday as the Red Hawks won their first game 9-1 over Marymount during the Cal Pac tournament.(Photo: Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight)Buy Photo

Thursday felt different for Sydney Moorhead. The freshman pitcher noticed more fans in the stands and out-of-town teams on campus, both of which meant one thing:

The postseason had arrived.

Any pressure Moorhead felt didn’t last long, as the freshman from Vacaville began her postseason career by striking out two of her first three batters.

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Simpson softball pitcher Sydney Moorhead fires in a pitch Thursday as the Red Hawks won their first game 9-1 over Marymount during the Cal Pac tournament.(Photo: Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight)

“I was a little nervous because it was my first playoff game for the conference,” Moorhead said. “But as soon as I started playing, I was fine.”

Moorhead’s pitching and the Red Hawks’ run support led Simpson to a 9-1 win over Marymount (14-35) in five innings Thursday to start the Cal Pac Conference Tournament. The Red Hawks (32-19) are the designated hosts for the conference tournament since they finished the regular season at the top of the conference standings.

To have a shot at a national championship and qualify for the NAIA playoffs May 15, Simpson will have to take first place in the conference tournament, which means winning at least two more games.

“You always worry about the first one,” Simpson coach Wayne Stower said. “You’re always worried about coming out and being a little flat. But the girls came out and performed really well.”

Simpson jumped out to an early lead on Thursday, scoring four runs in the first inning. Three of those came off the bat of sophomore Mia Olvera, who took an inside pitch out of the park for a three-run home run.

“I’ve been kind of struggling a little bit,” Olvera said. “So I just thought, ‘See ball and hit ball hard.’”

One day after she was crowned Cal Pac Conference Player of the Year, Olvera’s home run gave Simpson a four-run cushion in the first inning.

“Anytime we can get ahead with Sydney (Moorhead) on the mound, it’s pretty hard for people to catch us,” Stower said.

Heading into the fifth inning, Simpson was up, 8-1, thanks to a two-run single from sophomore Emily Fuller and a two-run home run from Madison Wright.

From there, a base hit from freshman Mazzie Davies drove in Wright to give Simpson a 9-1 lead, initiating the eight-run mercy rule and ending the game.

Up next for Simpson is a Friday noon matchup against La Sierra (21-23-1).

“(Beating Marymount) gives us a good start to the postseason,” Olvera said. “I feel like it’ll keep us rolling.”

Awards

Eight Red Hawks were recognized Wednesday with the release of the All-Cal Pac Conference Team.

Simpson won all five of the biggest awards, with Mia Olvera taking Player of the Year, Sydney Moorhead winning Pitcher of the Year, Alexis Parras winning Freshman of the Year, Mazzie Davies winning Newcomer of the Year and coach Wayne Stower winning Coach of the Year.

Each of those four players and junior Madison Wright made the All-Cal Pac Conference Team. Kayla Bailey and Deja Acosta were awarded honorable mentions.